Deaths Elsewhere

Published May 7, 2014 at 12:10AM

Deaths of note from around the world:

Charles Marowitz, 80: A playwright, director and theater critic known for his blunt manner and cutting-edge work, including controversial reworkings of classics by Henrik Ibsen and Shakespeare. Died Friday in Agoura Hills, Calif., from complications of Parkinson’s disease.

Cornelius Gurlitt, 81: The German art collector who for decades kept a secret trove of masterpieces before agreeing to return works that once belonged to Jews under the Nazi regime. Died Tuesday at his apartment in Munich.

Lynn Williams, 89: A Canadian union organizer who led the United Steelworkers from 1983 to 1994 when the North American industry was in decline. As the U.S. steel industry lost 350,000 jobs between 1981 and 1985, Williams took leadership of the Pittsburgh-based union and worked with managers and lenders to create restructuring plans for ailing mills. Died Monday in Toronto.

Gary Becker, 83: A Nobel prize-winning economics professor and longtime columnist for Business Week whose research illuminated motivations about such aspects of everyday life as marriage, crime, addiction, racial discrimination and birthrates. Died Saturday in Chicago.